Post by Srini on Feb 6, 2011 20:52:02 GMT

Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky

Perhaps Tarkovsky is one of the few filmmakers that can manage to not sacrifice beauty even if the story takes place in the midst of a war. Shot in black and white, the film is the story of a 12-year old boy (mature for his age due to his harsh childhood and experiences in German death camps) and a few Russian officers in an army post. The narrative meanders frequently into dreams and dream-like sequences shot in a beautiful manner. The film's ending sharply reminds us of the savagery of the war.

Post by omar1987 on Feb 7, 2011 20:03:28 GMT

One image that sticks out in my mind is children sitting on the back of a truck in the summertime, driving beneath some trees. I need to see this one again. I've also been meaning to re-watch "Andrei Rublev".

Post by MP on Feb 7, 2011 22:58:01 GMT

Ivan's ChildhoodIvanovo detstvoAndrei Tarkovsky 1962 USSRA young boy joins the Russian Army to avenge the death of his family at the hand of the Germans.An impressive film, Tarkovsky's most accessible and straightforward work (he took over after Eduard Abalov was fired), filmed with far too much virtuosity to dismiss as minor stuff. If it is supposed to be from the eyes of the title character, there is an odd episode dedicated entirely to the seduction of a female doctor by one of Ivan's commanders and carers; it would be throwaway were it not fantastically shot, with a camera roaming side to side in a completely anonymous forest, which offers wonderful potential for lens focusing and framing of character in shot. The same camera movement is echoed later in the film, when it explores an empty wall with the words "Avenge us" written on, as Ivan imagines long-gone victims writing such words - Tarkovsky shows us the empty wall but plays the would-be screams over the soundtrack. Earlier in the film, there is an incredible dream sequence, in which Ivan falls down a well and the camera seems to jump through different spaces and times in the same take. Eloquent stuff made to look effortless; so little in the way of cast and production design, and yet so effective in conjuring a feeling of war.

Post by Anasazie on Feb 7, 2011 23:48:08 GMT

Definitely his most straight forward. Funny coz i've seen all but the last two features of his more than once and this is the only feature of his i have a very vague memory of. I've even seen on the big screen too.

Anyone been lucky enough to catch his stuff on the big screen?

"in the last analysis terrorism is an idea generated by capitalism to justify better defense measures to safeguard capitalism." RW Fassbinder

Post by QC on Feb 8, 2011 1:10:59 GMT

I've seen Solyaris and Mirror on the big screen.

[i]I shall not speak, I shall think about nothing[br]But endless love will mount in my soul;[br]And I shall travel far, very far, like a gypsy,[br]Through the countryside, - happy as if I were with a woman.[/i]

Post by QC on Feb 8, 2011 10:21:47 GMT

Solyaris might be the most impressive film I've seen visually.

I've only seen a VHS cope of AR on a 10 inch TV no less!

[i]I shall not speak, I shall think about nothing[br]But endless love will mount in my soul;[br]And I shall travel far, very far, like a gypsy,[br]Through the countryside, - happy as if I were with a woman.[/i]

Post by Michael on Feb 8, 2011 15:28:13 GMT

I've watched this film twice and found it a bore each time.

=/

Aiyyo, camouflage chameleon, ninjas scalin your buildin[br]No time to grab the gun they already got your wife and children[br]A hit was sent, from the President, to raid your residence[br]Because you had secret evidence, and documents[br]On how they raped the continents, and it's the prominent[br]dominant Islamic, Asiatic black hebrew[br]The year two thousand and two, the battle still with the Wu